Dolphin Ratings - National Basketball Association

Explanation: Each team is listed with its record, overall score differential, and its ratings. Brief explanations of the ratings follow.

Schedule The number in this column is the effective opponent strength of a team. In other words, they would be expected to have the same record had they played all games against an opponent of this predictive rating at a neutral site. Because this calculation depends on the strength of the team in question, it is not possible to rank schedules using these values.
Expected Losses For college teams, this number is the number of losses an average ranked (top 15 hockey; otherwise top 25) team would be expected to have against the team's schedule. For pro teams, this is the number of losses an average team would be expected to have against the team's schedule. Unlike the schedule ranking, this value can be used to rank schedules.
Standard Ranks teams in an order such that a team is "probably better" than all teams ranked lower than it. This calculation uses margin of victory only for computing a team's opponents strengths; the team's rating itself is computed using only wins, losses, and ties relative to its schedule
Median Likelihood Determines the likely ratings for each team, based on its wins, losses, and ties relative to its schedule. This generally produces the same or similar ratings as the standard ranking.
Predictive Both schedule strength and rating vs. schedule strength are determined considering both the wins and losses and the score differentials. This rating contains none of the biases in the standard rating, but does weight recent games slightly more than past games since those are a better indication of the team's current strength. This rating is the best of the first three for seeing how good teams are, and thus is the best for predicting future results.
Improved RPI Rating The improved RPI formula is similar to the standard RPI, except that the schedule strength is carried out to infinite depth instead of ending with opponents' opponents, thus allows for a better comparison of isolated groups of teams than is given by the standard RPI calculation. It is similar to the simple rating, except that all games are given equal weight.
Scoring. This value indicates how many points a team would be expected to score if it played an identical team.
Offense. This combines the predictive and scoring ratings to measure how many points a team scores. The number is the predictive rating of an opponent against whom the team would be expected to score the league average number of points. This does not necessarily rate a team's offensive abilities, as a fast pace in basketball or big-play defense in football can make a team score more points.
Defense. This combines the predictive and scoring ratings to measure how many points a team allows. The number is the predictive rating of an opponent against whom the team would be expected to allow the league average number of points. The same caveat in the predictive-offense rating applies here.

In order to increase early-season stability, the three main rankings, the improved RPI, and the college pseudopoll include priors based on the previous season final predictive ratings and occasionally incorporating preseason predictions of various major publications. The other rankings for college sports do not include priors, and thus can be wildly unstable early in the year. A team whose rankings are affected by this prior is noted with a P following its rankings.

Full Ranking

                                              STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
SPURS         59 20 9455 8818  0.087 39.383    2  0.663    2  0.671    2  0.686    2 0.5626   14  3.987    1  0.734    5  0.638
NUGGETS       50 28 9482 9112  0.018 37.731    7  0.337    7  0.339    7  0.319    7 0.5332    5  4.028    2  0.579   14  0.058
THUNDER       62 16 9299 8387  0.064 37.720    1  0.778    1  0.785    1  0.789    1 0.5719   26  3.929    3  0.537    1  1.040
HEAT          41 37 9419 9237  0.025 38.505   17  0.078   17  0.073   16  0.105   17 0.5067    2  4.057    4  0.521   20 -0.312
HAWKS         45 33 9252 9041  0.007 37.871   11  0.189   11  0.183    8  0.289   11 0.5176    6  4.014    5  0.477   13  0.100
CAVALIERS     49 29 9305 8980  0.018 37.901    8  0.313    8  0.315    9  0.286    8 0.5306    8  4.011    6  0.458   12  0.113
PISTONS       57 21 9162 8533  0.024 37.170    3  0.548    3  0.556    3  0.595    3 0.5544   25  3.937    7  0.387    3  0.803
HORNETS       43 36 9201 8790 -0.007 37.399   16  0.093   16  0.081    5  0.512   16 0.5077   22  3.948    8  0.357    4  0.667
KNICKS        51 28 9245 8727  0.027 38.051    5  0.351    6  0.353    6  0.461    5 0.5343   20  3.949    9  0.313    7  0.610
LAKERS        50 28 9102 8990  0.007 38.213    6  0.344    5  0.354   14  0.130    6 0.5338   11  3.994   10  0.214   15  0.046
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
TIMBERWOLVES  46 32 9164 8907  0.010 37.842   10  0.216   10  0.210   11  0.178   10 0.5206   17  3.981   11  0.195   11  0.160
CELTICS       53 25 8942 8347  0.034 37.570    4  0.441    4  0.439    4  0.566    4 0.5432   29  3.900   12  0.170    2  0.962
TRAIL BLAZERS 40 38 8998 9037 -0.005 38.305   18  0.035   18  0.033   17  0.022   19 0.5022   15  3.984   13  0.053   16 -0.009
RAPTORS       43 35 8920 8746  0.019 38.365   13  0.135   13  0.131   12  0.173   13 0.5127   23  3.941   14 -0.016   10  0.362
76ERS         43 35 9067 9089 -0.007 38.231   14  0.122   14  0.128   18 -0.067   14 0.5114   16  3.984   15 -0.036   19 -0.097
CLIPPERS      40 38 8891 8779 -0.003 37.914   19  0.029   19  0.022   13  0.161   18 0.5023   24  3.938   16 -0.042    9  0.365
BULLS         29 49 9058 9482 -0.008 39.400   22 -0.290   22 -0.291   22 -0.414   22 0.4700    3  4.041   17 -0.084   27 -0.743
ROCKETS       49 29 8953 8577  0.018 37.657    9  0.311    9  0.311   10  0.273    9 0.5299   28  3.907   18 -0.088    6  0.633
PELICANS      25 54 9073 9429 -0.018 39.298   24 -0.460   24 -0.460   21 -0.239   23 0.4563    9  4.003   19 -0.110   22 -0.367
JAZZ          21 58 9251 9945 -0.031 39.943   26 -0.581   26 -0.579   27 -0.623   26 0.4448    1  4.074   20 -0.112   30 -1.133
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
MAGIC         42 36 9001 8996  0.009 38.575   15  0.096   15  0.102   19 -0.071   15 0.5090   18  3.969   21 -0.116   18 -0.027
WARRIORS      36 42 8957 8981  0.032 39.310   20 -0.048   20 -0.059   20 -0.086   20 0.4935   19  3.965   22 -0.154   17 -0.019
SUNS          43 35 8807 8682  0.027 38.710   12  0.147   12  0.144   15  0.117   12 0.5140   27  3.921   23 -0.173    8  0.407
GRIZZLIES     25 53 8956 9339 -0.035 38.483   25 -0.466   25 -0.464   24 -0.473   25 0.4556    7  4.013   24 -0.288   26 -0.657
MAVERICKS     25 53 8879 9315 -0.038 38.564   23 -0.458   23 -0.452   23 -0.450   24 0.4557   12  3.988   25 -0.398   24 -0.502
PACERS        18 60 8777 9418 -0.031 39.376   29 -0.673   29 -0.672   25 -0.520   29 0.4359   10  3.999   26 -0.408   25 -0.632
WIZARDS       17 61 8817 9722 -0.053 39.390   30 -0.750   30 -0.747   30 -0.768   30 0.4324    4  4.039   27 -0.446   29 -1.089
KINGS         21 58 8763 9572 -0.045 39.818   27 -0.598   27 -0.591   28 -0.699   27 0.4442   13  3.988   28 -0.649   28 -0.750
BUCKS         31 47 8640 9114 -0.032 38.920   21 -0.252   21 -0.245   26 -0.525   21 0.4746   21  3.949   29 -0.675   23 -0.375
NETS          19 59 8287 9031 -0.033 39.587   28 -0.650   28 -0.645   29 -0.729   28 0.4394   30  3.899   30 -1.129   21 -0.328

PACIFIC DIVISION
                                              STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
LAKERS        50 28 9102 8990  0.007 38.213    6  0.344    5  0.354   14  0.130    6 0.5338   11  3.994   10  0.214   15  0.046
CLIPPERS      40 38 8891 8779 -0.003 37.914   19  0.029   19  0.022   13  0.161   18 0.5023   24  3.938   16 -0.042    9  0.365
WARRIORS      36 42 8957 8981  0.032 39.310   20 -0.048   20 -0.059   20 -0.086   20 0.4935   19  3.965   22 -0.154   17 -0.019
SUNS          43 35 8807 8682  0.027 38.710   12  0.147   12  0.144   15  0.117   12 0.5140   27  3.921   23 -0.173    8  0.407
KINGS         21 58 8763 9572 -0.045 39.818   27 -0.598   27 -0.591   28 -0.699   27 0.4442   13  3.988   28 -0.649   28 -0.750

NORTHWEST DIVISION
                                              STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
NUGGETS       50 28 9482 9112  0.018 37.731    7  0.337    7  0.339    7  0.319    7 0.5332    5  4.028    2  0.579   14  0.058
THUNDER       62 16 9299 8387  0.064 37.720    1  0.778    1  0.785    1  0.789    1 0.5719   26  3.929    3  0.537    1  1.040
TIMBERWOLVES  46 32 9164 8907  0.010 37.842   10  0.216   10  0.210   11  0.178   10 0.5206   17  3.981   11  0.195   11  0.160
TRAIL BLAZERS 40 38 8998 9037 -0.005 38.305   18  0.035   18  0.033   17  0.022   19 0.5022   15  3.984   13  0.053   16 -0.009
JAZZ          21 58 9251 9945 -0.031 39.943   26 -0.581   26 -0.579   27 -0.623   26 0.4448    1  4.074   20 -0.112   30 -1.133

SOUTHWEST DIVISION
                                              STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
SPURS         59 20 9455 8818  0.087 39.383    2  0.663    2  0.671    2  0.686    2 0.5626   14  3.987    1  0.734    5  0.638
ROCKETS       49 29 8953 8577  0.018 37.657    9  0.311    9  0.311   10  0.273    9 0.5299   28  3.907   18 -0.088    6  0.633
PELICANS      25 54 9073 9429 -0.018 39.298   24 -0.460   24 -0.460   21 -0.239   23 0.4563    9  4.003   19 -0.110   22 -0.367
GRIZZLIES     25 53 8956 9339 -0.035 38.483   25 -0.466   25 -0.464   24 -0.473   25 0.4556    7  4.013   24 -0.288   26 -0.657
MAVERICKS     25 53 8879 9315 -0.038 38.564   23 -0.458   23 -0.452   23 -0.450   24 0.4557   12  3.988   25 -0.398   24 -0.502

CENTRAL DIVISION
                                              STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
CAVALIERS     49 29 9305 8980  0.018 37.901    8  0.313    8  0.315    9  0.286    8 0.5306    8  4.011    6  0.458   12  0.113
PISTONS       57 21 9162 8533  0.024 37.170    3  0.548    3  0.556    3  0.595    3 0.5544   25  3.937    7  0.387    3  0.803
BULLS         29 49 9058 9482 -0.008 39.400   22 -0.290   22 -0.291   22 -0.414   22 0.4700    3  4.041   17 -0.084   27 -0.743
PACERS        18 60 8777 9418 -0.031 39.376   29 -0.673   29 -0.672   25 -0.520   29 0.4359   10  3.999   26 -0.408   25 -0.632
BUCKS         31 47 8640 9114 -0.032 38.920   21 -0.252   21 -0.245   26 -0.525   21 0.4746   21  3.949   29 -0.675   23 -0.375

SOUTHEAST DIVISION
                                              STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
HEAT          41 37 9419 9237  0.025 38.505   17  0.078   17  0.073   16  0.105   17 0.5067    2  4.057    4  0.521   20 -0.312
HAWKS         45 33 9252 9041  0.007 37.871   11  0.189   11  0.183    8  0.289   11 0.5176    6  4.014    5  0.477   13  0.100
HORNETS       43 36 9201 8790 -0.007 37.399   16  0.093   16  0.081    5  0.512   16 0.5077   22  3.948    8  0.357    4  0.667
MAGIC         42 36 9001 8996  0.009 38.575   15  0.096   15  0.102   19 -0.071   15 0.5090   18  3.969   21 -0.116   18 -0.027
WIZARDS       17 61 8817 9722 -0.053 39.390   30 -0.750   30 -0.747   30 -0.768   30 0.4324    4  4.039   27 -0.446   29 -1.089

ATLANTIC DIVISION
                                              STANDARD   MED LIKELY  PREDICTIVE  IMPRVD RPI    SCORING     OFFENSE     DEFENSE 
TEAM           W  L   PF   PA  SCHED  ELOSS  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING  RNK RATING
KNICKS        51 28 9245 8727  0.027 38.051    5  0.351    6  0.353    6  0.461    5 0.5343   20  3.949    9  0.313    7  0.610
CELTICS       53 25 8942 8347  0.034 37.570    4  0.441    4  0.439    4  0.566    4 0.5432   29  3.900   12  0.170    2  0.962
RAPTORS       43 35 8920 8746  0.019 38.365   13  0.135   13  0.131   12  0.173   13 0.5127   23  3.941   14 -0.016   10  0.362
76ERS         43 35 9067 9089 -0.007 38.231   14  0.122   14  0.128   18 -0.067   14 0.5114   16  3.984   15 -0.036   19 -0.097
NETS          19 59 8287 9031 -0.033 39.587   28 -0.650   28 -0.645   29 -0.729   28 0.4394   30  3.899   30 -1.129   21 -0.328

DIVISION             W   L   PCT  RNK RATING
NORTHWEST DIVISION 219 172 0.560    1  0.163
ATLANTIC DIVISION  209 182 0.535    2  0.102
SOUTHEAST DIVISION 188 203 0.481    3 -0.008
SOUTHWEST DIVISION 183 209 0.467    4 -0.037
PACIFIC DIVISION   190 201 0.486    5 -0.076
CENTRAL DIVISION   184 206 0.472    6 -0.121

Home field advantage amounts to:
     0.138 points in main ratings (0.186 for semineutral)
     0.014 points in improved RPI (0.019 for semineutral)
Average of 2.15 points per score

Predict score:








Team Strength vs. Time Plot:






posted: Mon Apr  6 05:30:11 2026
games through: Sun Apr  5 2026

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